Enemy Logic - Bones As Armour [2009]

Genre: Metalcore/Melodic Death Metal
Label: Unsigned
URL: http://www.myspace.com/enemylogic
Country: Cork, Ireland
Note: By band request

Irish metalcore quartet Enemy Logic has released their debut album, Bones As Armour.
First impressions and the keyboards give me a thought of old school melodic death metal, but as whole it's pretty much very generic metalcore. Pretty boring riffs, mediocre vocal efforts, the songs sound pretty much the same...
Sick and tired as I am of melodic death metal, this may have an impact on this review. Don't get me wrong about this album, it's perfectly fine. However, if they work a little on standing out of the crowd and create that "something special", I may get my ears open.
I have to admit though that the Ring of Fire cover is a little amusing. Why, oh why did you make a cover of THAT song?!

All in all it's classic metalcore with a dash of melodic death metal. If this sounds appealing to you, go ahead and check the band out, you won't get disappointed. But if you're looking for progressive and new, you may want to search somewhere else.


Best song: Scatter The Ashes
Score: 4/10

Emmure - Felony [2009]

Genre: Beatdown/Hardcore/Metalcore
Label: Victory Records
URL: http://www.myspace.com/emmure
Country: New York, USA

Emmure's third full-length has been released to many's hopes, and disbelief. Nowadays I hear more negative things being said about Emmure than positive things. In one way I understand them. Going from emotional lyrics about false love and relationships to the "fuck bitches, get money"-concept. I, for one matter, am not a fan of this kind of change which began even in their previous album The Respect Issue.
I also hear complaints about Emmure being a "chugchugchug"-band. In what way should someone be annoyed by this fact? Don't like it? Don't listen to it. And keep those comments to yourself.

To get back to the album itself. For an opening track there is Sunday Bacon, which sounds like a ripoff of Bury Your Dead. I was hoping the rest of the songs hadn't gone the same way downhill as Bury Your Dead have, and I was especially not expecting to see a BYD-ripoff-album either. I was then pleased in that way; I found nothing else on this album to compare Emmure with BYD.
To be honest, a lot of songs on this album are nothing special. Many of them sound pretty much the same, with the same riffs and typical breakdowns. But the good songs on this album, First Impressions and Don't Be One for instance, sound absolutely amazing. First Impressions catches you completely off guard with the new implemented "tech metal"-sweeping intro. You even get to hear regular guitar riffs, not only the chugging! This is a big difference in what Emmure usually do. But don't worry, the rest of the songs sound like typical Emmure...
... except for one song. Don't Be One. Two words: clean vocals. Melodic riffs. What's this? Am I really listening to Emmure? The wannabe-gangsta metalcore band? Can't be... It's one hell of a change though. And I like it.


Best track: First Impressions
Score: 6/10

Open Fire! - Slaves EP [2009]

Genre: Hardcore/Melodic Hardcore
Label: Unsigned
URL: http://www.myspace.com/openfirewa
Country: Washington, USA
Note: By band request

After releasing one full length and one split with Passing In Dreams, Open Fire! have released their third album, Slaves.

Having listened to their first album and full-length Built To Abandon before, the new sound of Slaves comes as quite the surprise. While BTA is what you would call a true beatdown hardcore record, Slaves have gone more to the melodic hardcore style. In no way is this a negative thing in my opinion, because I find melodic hardcore one of the most appealing genres of all times.
Although heavier than most other melodic hardcore bands in terms of guitar play, you still find that little special melodic-defining picking in the verses commonly used by similar bands. Heavy breakdowns, band chanting, even clean vocals is experienced in this change-of-pace follow-up.

To find something to rant about on this record: only three tracks! I know it's an EP, but I want to hear more. Other than that this record is absolutely awesome if you're into hardcore. With almost 10,000 tracks played at last.fm at the time of writing, it's only a matter of time before that number is ten times higher.

Best track: Faith-Healer/Death-Dealer
Score: 8/10